Hip Chick has a breakthrough

I shared recently that I enrolled in the brave girls club, an online art class that empowers women in art. It's art therapy basically. Very powerful stuff. The adorable Melody Ross lovingly asks her students to be brave and overcome the obstacles that block us in life. Through art. One page, one stroke at a time. Genius. I don't have big obstacles to overcome, luckily. Some women are overcoming cancer, divorce, abuse, addiction, you name it, they are facing it. I think this class is fantastic therapy for them and it changes lives. My only obstacle in my way is ME. ouch. yuck. How can that be? Easy, we all get in our way if we listen to our insecurities. My insecurity is not being "good enough" and this is very common among artists, people in general too. But I am facing it. Head on. I am a brave girl. By facing it we can change it. How? By asking if it's true. Melody (even her name is beautiful) asks us to make truth cards, these are cards that empower us with statements like "I am precious" I am good" I don't have to know everything to be valued". and many many more profound statements. There are pages of empowering statements to choose from and you pick which one speaks to you. and you make an art card out of it. When you are feeling vulnerable the idea is to look at your truth card and ask yourself is what I am feeling true? or is it my old behavior talking to me? This class is only 2 weeks in and it has already made a huge impact on me. I am making art like CRAZY. It has helped me loosen up, Yipee!! This is exactly what I needed. I am playing again. I am letting myself experiment and I am loving what is happening...

I think this says, "You are so brave dear one."
This was a happy accident...which is what most art is..I saw these two old pictures hanging on the wall in the shop and decided to experiment with them. I glued some burlap on them, painted on the burlap and then looked around for things to use on top of that. This is often my process...I saw an old picture and some ribbon and as I was just thinking of my truth statements I used one and WA-LA...it was finished. Then I made this one..to go with it..

It says "Let your wings guide you. You were meant to soar"
and I loved it. I have an obsession with wings as they are my spiritual symbol ( as they are for many people) and my Hip Chick Design sign has wings on either end so this works really well in the shop. I posted the pictures on my Hip Chick facebook page and immediately sold these pieces. wow. This has never happened before. I was just goofing around.....hmmmmm....I think there's a lesson here. Suffice it to say the direction of my art has now changed from traditional painting to mixed media collage. I love the combination of vintage vibe combined with empowering statements. It's exactly what Hip Chick is all about! I am just so grateful to be making art that represents me, for the shop and has meaning. And people like it. This is my purpose, this is why I do what I do. I don't need to get rich, I don't sell my art for much, in fact, it's ridiculously cheap. I sell my art for the joy of it. I love to make something beautiful that makes another's life more beautiful by having it. That's the best feeling in the world. I am going to be adding my art and treasures to my website and setting up paypal for those of you who don't live nearby and want to purchase my goodies. I have been meaning to do this, it's the way of the future. Online selling. My art pieces were $38.00 each. A steal. So if you are looking for affordable treasures you know where to get them. Me. I have more goodies to share but I must get going. We have an art class today at the shop. It's a collage, mixed media class by Stephanie Jordan and it's going to be fun. I am sure I will learn some tricks and I love seeing people enjoying my shop and making art. I will host a class myself in the future, right now I am enjoying letting others teach and I am the student. There is plenty of time and thanks to my brave girls lessons I don't have to do it all NOW. I will let it flow, naturally and gently. Thank you for checking in on Hip Chick Happenings....I love your support!

Happening's at Hip Chick Designs

Last Saturday we had Julee Hermann teach us all about soldering at the shop and it was delightful. There were 9 students, not including myself, and Julee walked us through how to create a pretty picture in a house shaped case and when we were done enclose it with the soldering technique. It looked kinda intimidating at first, the soldering iron is HOT and I know I am such a spaz I was worried I would hurt myself, or someone else. But I managed to come out unscathed, as we all did and I have a beautiful piece of art to show for it. Here are some pictures of the class....

I love how everyone made their own creation, no two were alike....

First you make the 'collage' then you put it in the glass to be preserved...

our beautiful teacher Julee Hermann

the demo

Patty has taken all of Hip Chick's classes so far...

Terin made her piece as a gift for her brother

my piece before it was soldered

soldering station

The Shellies having fun....

Terin soldering her piece

My finished piece, "Key to Life"
I love soldering now, I want to solder everything....haha. typical. But I think it'd be great to have a set to make charms and necklaces, shrines, etc for the shop. I shall put it on my wish list...Our next class is this Saturday with Stephanie Jordan who is teaching a mixed media collage class. There is still space available and as you can see this is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. You can be surrounded with good creative energy at a fun store, learn new techniques and walk away with a beautiful piece of art, handmade by YOU. A real treat. If you are interested email me at carrieclay@yahoo.com. Or call the shop at (707) 747-5543. We'd love to have you. I love having people make art at the shop and we will be having classes monthly, if you want information, make sure to join my email list as I am sending newsletters monthly. I have a facebook Hip Chick page where I post events often as well as I have a tab on my blog for constant contact, this is where you add your email to my list to be informed.
Lastly I want to shout out that Open Studios is April 30th and May 1st at the Arsenal. This is a once a year event sponsored by Arts Benicia and it is not to be missed.

The event is all day Saturday and Sunday it is FREE, and you will see more than 100 studios open for your viewing pleasure, I don't know about you but I LOVE snooping and this is your chance to snoop in these studios that are normally closed. Come see what art is made right here in the Bay Area, there is food, drinks, music, and art show, raffle and most of all.....FUN! I know I will be there, and I hope to see you too...thanks for taking time to check out Hip Chick's happenings...

Soul Restoration Online Workshop by Brave Girls Club

Hi blog friends. I have been neglectful. I'm sorry. It's hard after an absence to get back in the mode ya know? But I am here, I am thinking abou cha. What is up is trying to decompress back into real life again after the vaca of a lifetime. Re-entry is brutal. When one is transported so dramatically into paradise as I was, it is very challenging to do laundry, pay bills, and get groceries....I mean no one is feeling sorry for me, and indeed I'm not either, I'm just telling it like it is. So that being said it's time to get back into it....LIFE. Hip Chick and creating and frolicking..sometimes a break is good. You come back rejuvenated and ready to take on the world. And other times it leaves you numb, fuzzy headed and unclear. I'm experiencing the latter. So I decided to treat myself, yes, treat myself to "brave girls club" online art class. I found it through the facebook art channels, and it looks really positive and inspiring. Just what I need to get back into art after my little sabbatical. Here's what I am talking about..

check it out....these are some darling girls.

I just know we'd be friends if we met in real life. But since we haven't YET, I will do the workshop and meet other artists and women that are doing the same. I have done other workshops and met other women like my new friend Julee Hermann who happens to live near me and is teaching a class next Saturday at Hip Chick's. I met her through the Creative workshop's group and now we are hooked up! I love the internet for connecting people. I also love taking art classes and since I am time challenged as we all are, online classes are the best! You can do them at home whenever you have free time. There is nothing better than watching others create and then learning a new technique to implement into your own art. I am now a 'brave girl' and I shall be excited to see what unfolds....

Paradise revisited

This is a video of baby turtles taking their first steps in the world....magical

and here is a slideshow of my various pictures of the trip of a lifetime...I will never forget it.

I posted even more pictures on facebook, and to be honest it's much easier to do. But there are a few people like Robin who only check my blog so I post these for you....a labor of love. As the pictures show it was a trip of a lifetime. I waited 24 years to return and do this trip with Ben and it exceeded all my expectations. I got to see old friends, my old house, sail to Buck Island, see turtles migrate and renew my wedding vows. It was magical. I can't wait to get painting and make a giant painting of Buck Island. I have been to St.Croix three times, twice to live and once for a vacation and every time I am blown away by it's charm. If you haven't been then go. It's completely unique, third world funky, combined with epic beauty and charm. It has my heart and soul, and the best moments in my life.....

Hip Chick has returned to her roots

Today is day 3 of being in paradise....St.Croix USVI. I have waited 24 years to get here. Why? Gosh I guess it seemed so far and so expensive, but now that I am here I know I won't wait that long to return.

This is a picture on the first day outside our room at the hotel...
I moved to St.Croix in 1978 from California, my dad was transferred through Bank of America and we lived here for 2 years. This is house we lived in..

I went back and knocked on the door and Megan answered and I told her I lived there 32 years ago and she was so gracious as to let me go inside. I saw the whole house and it hadn't changed one bit.

I remember this big room just like this...and I saw my old bedroom...I used to sneak out of the sliding glass doors...good times...it's so wonderful to go back in time. I just love it.

I dream of the things that happened there and then there I was, "snap", back in that house. Surreal. I also saw some of my old friends...Big Beard has a charter boat company and he sails to Buck Island...My favorite memories are sailing

with him. Ben and I are going to Buck Island tomorrow and I can't wait..
I saw another familiar face, Sue Gibbons, my old roommate from my 20's.

I came back to St.Croix from 85-87 and lived here once again. Had way too much fun.....I went back to California to 'visit' and ended up staying as I had started to date Ben, my husband. So for us to come here 24 years later together is full circle indeed. Words cannot convey my feelings, but I am a sharing kind of gal so I show in my pictures my joy.

I have posted many more pictures on facebook as it's much easier but I know there are those like Robin who don't go on facebook. So these are for you...thank you for caring. for checking. for being in my life. Hip Chick is in her mecca and she has never been happier...

shout out from Pam Carriker

Pam gives Hip Chick a huge shout out today. Thanks Pam. She is one of my heros. I love her demeanor, her art and her accessibility. She's so real. I sent her a cobalt blue tutu and she loves it, and I love her. One of the many delightful things to happen to me lately has been to interact with fellow artists via the internet. I don't even know these women in person but I feel like I do because they are so friendly. Pam is such the case. She is pretty doggone famous now that her book, "Art at the speed of life" is on the bestseller list. But she takes time to chat on facebook, answer emails and give advice or support. It's one of the best things about artists, the ability to share. I have to run, literally and then go pick up Bob my studio mate, but I wanted to post this before I did. I am closed from March 20-April 6th on vacation. When I return from the Caribbean we have our 20 year anniversary, my birthday and Abby's birthday (my daughter) it's 'crunch week' at the Clayden house. I will be posting from home tho and of course sharing my Caribbean pictures so stay tuned!! As always thank you for your support!!

check out Pam's blog at www.pamcarriker.com
http://pamcarriker.com/2011/03/17/when-life-gets-you-down/

The Alameda was quite an adventure today!

Today was full of "splatter" as Sandi and I named "too much fun"...why splatter? Cause your brains feel like they splatter all over the place from happiness. I picked up Miss Sandi and met Kat at our usual rendevous and off we went on Miss Daisy (my truck) to the Alameda. Brrrr. It was chilly willy. Cloudy and sorta rainy but that doesn't deter us crazy hip chicks from shopping, no way! Stopped by the Junk Girls and said hi to Jenny and Melissa, they have wonderful merchandise and they are such sweeties. I lusted after a few things, walked away and thought about this cabinet full of drawers and when I came back I saw it was sold. DANG! But that's the flea, you take your chances and if you think too long it gets bought up right after you walk away. But don't fret this hip chick got plenty of goodies, she just kept on looking..

and after we all got our goodies, we drove to the shop and unloaded the shelf. Sandi decided she wanted to buy my secretary so we rearranged all the Toykomilk, and we loaded up Daisy once more and set off. In Walnut Creek as we were transferring Kat's stuff into her car I turned off Daisy. I noticed I had left the lights on, OOPS, and quickly turned them off. Too late. Battery died. NOOOOOO. Daisy has been so good, so strong, and dependable. Luckily Kat called AAA and we had Andrew there in a jiffy. He replaced the battery and spun the fan and Daisy started right up. Whew! Sandi and I drove home and unloaded her secretary with the engine running just to be safe and then I parked her on the hill and came home bushed. What a day! It was truly an adventure and I loved it all, got to take Daisy for a ride, got to hang with my buddies Kat and Sandi, got some goodies for the shop, made a couple sales, had an unexpected adventure, and laughed a lot. What more could you ask for on a gloomy Sunday in March???